Hopf solitons from instanton holonomy (Q2758124)

The holonomy of an SU(2) \(N\)-instanton in the \(x^4\)-direction gives a map from \(\mathbb{R}^3\) into SU(2), which provides a good model of an \(N\)-Skyrmion. Combining this map with the standard Hopf map from SU\((2)\cong S^3\) to \(S^2\) gives a configuration for a Hopf soliton of charge \(N\). In this way, one may define a collective-coordinate manifold for Hopf solitons. This paper deals with instanton approximations to Hopf solitons in the Skyrme-Faddeev model, focusing in particular on the \(N=1\) and 2 sectors, and the two-soliton interaction.